# Venera 1: Humanity's First Voyage to Venus
Published: January 25, 2026
Duration: 1:34
# This is your Astronomy Tonight podcast.
Good evening, stargazers! Today, January 25th, marks a particularly thrilling anniversary in the annals of astronomical discovery – one that reminds us that the universe loves to keep its secrets close until the very moment it's ready to reveal them.
On this date in 1961, the Soviet Union launched **Venera 1**, humanity's first attempt to reach Venus and the very first spacecraft ever sent to another planet. Now, you might think we'd start with Mars, our friendly neighbor, but no – the Soviets looked at Venus, Earth's "sister planet," and thought, "Let's go straight for...
Good evening, stargazers! Today, January 25th, marks a particularly thrilling anniversary in the annals of astronomical discovery – one that reminds us that the universe loves to keep its secrets close until the very moment it's ready to reveal them.
On this date in 1961, the Soviet Union launched **Venera 1**, humanity's first attempt to reach Venus and the very first spacecraft ever sent to another planet. Now, you might think we'd start with Mars, our friendly neighbor, but no – the Soviets looked at Venus, Earth's "sister planet," and thought, "Let's go straight for...